Internal-combustion engine



1,622,015 March 1927' J. M. WILLIAMS. JR

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 29. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March22 1927.

J. M. WILLIAMS. JR

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed March 29 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 affozneqJFatented lifter.

f means INTEENAL-CUMBUSTION ENGINE.

Application filed March 29, 1921. Serial No. 456,559.

This invent-ion relates to internal combus-' tion engines, andparticularly to engines of the radial type adapted for use in thepropulsion of aeroplanes, although the lnvention is not restricted toits use with this type of engine, as the features thereof are applicableto engines of other types.

The objects of the invention are primarily to provide a new and improvedmethod of and means for effecting an eliicient and uniform cooling ofthe cylinder or cylinders of the engine.

lVith this object. in view the invention comprises the method ofoperation, and the novel combinations and constructions which will nowbe described in greater detail, and will be clearly pointed out in theclaims appended hereto.

The invention will be described in detail as applied to an engine of theradial type, it being understood that this engine 18 selected forpurposes of illustration. only, and not with any intent to limit theinvention thereto.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the crank casing andone of the engine cylinders.

Figure 2 is a sectional plan View taken on the line HII of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line III-HI of Figure l.

The invention is illustrated in connection with an internal combustionengine of the radial type, particularly adapted for use in connectionwith aeroplanes, and it comprises a central crank casing 1 from whichradiate a plurality of cylinders 2 of which any suitable number may beprovided, there being nine cylinders in the engine illustrated which areangularly spaced substantially equal distances apart about the axis ofthe crank shaft, 3, the cylinders being secured to the crank casing inany suitable or usual manner. The crank casing is divided in the planeof the cylinder axes, the two parts being connected together by means ofbolts 4.

For convenience of illustration only one of the nine cylinders 2 isshown in the drawings, namely the uppermost cylinder, it beingunderstood that the remaining eight cylinders will have their axesangularly disposed about the crank shaft 3.

The cylinders are provided with liners 6 within which recipro-pistons 7,the uppermost piston, illustrated in the drawings, being connected tothe crank pin 8 of the crank shaft 3 by means of a master connecting rod9 as usual in engines of the radial type, the

remaining pistons being connected by means of connecting rods 10 to themaster connect- I ing rod. supported by means of anti-friction bearings11 in the crank casing 1, the forward end of the crank shaft beingconnected to the driving propeller or propellers in the usual manner.

Each cylinder 2 is provided with two inlet valves 12 and two exhaustvalves 13 these valves seating upon seats 14 in the cylinder head, theinlet valves controlling communication between the cylinder and inletpassages 15 while the exhaust valves control communication between thecylinder and ex 7 haust passages 16 which may discharge freely into'theatmosphere as indicated.

The combustible mixture from a suitable carbureter or carbureters issupplied to the inlet passages 15 of the respective cylinders S fromchambers 17 each of which receives mixture through an inlet 18, the.mixture passing from the chambers through outlets 19 connected by pipes20 and elbows 21 with the respective inlet passages .15, each elbow 21being branched to communicate with the two corresponding inlet passages15. In the case of the nine-cylinder engine illustrated in the drawingsthree chambers 17 are pro vided each of which has three outlets 19connected by ipes 20 and elbows 21 with the inlet openings 15 of threecylinders symmetrically arranged about the aXis of the crank shaft. Thechambers 17 are formed in a casing 22 which is secured by bolts or inany other suitable manner to the rear side of the crank casing l.

When the aeroplane or other vehicle on which the engine is mounted ismoving for wardly the air strikes the front portions of the severalcyiinders and is deflected around the sides thereof, thence flowingrearwardly in such manner that the rear portions of the cylinders willbe unexposed to the action of the cooling air and will, therefore,become overheated. This unequal cooling of the cylinders causesdistortion thereof and con sequent sticking of the pistons and one ofthe objects of the present invention is to provide an improved andsimple means for cooling the rear portions of the cylinders to preventthe overheating of the same and the The crank shaft 3 is rotatablytherewith an annular passage 24. The casing 22 is secured to the crankcasing l in spacedrelation to the rear wall 25 of said crank casing,thereby providing between said wall 25 and the forward wall 26 of thecasing 22 an annular chamber 27 which communicates at the centralportion thereoi with the annular passage 24.. At the rear of eachcylinder 2 is arranged a casing or plate 28 which forms with theadjacent position of the cylinder wall a passage 29 communicating at itsinner end with the annular chamber 27 and open to the atmosphere at itsouter end.

Mounted upon the rear end of the crank shaft 3 and rotatable therewithis a tan or suction blower 30 which maybe of any suit able or knowntypeand which is arranged when the crank shaft 3 is rotated to induce acurrent of air through each of the passages 29 into the annular chamber27 and ifromthence through the annular passage 24- and out through thetan or blower, the air current induced through each of the passages 29flowing over the rear surface of the corresponding engine cylinder so asto effectively cool such rear surface. As already stated, the airflowing rearwardly relatively to the cylinders when the aeroplane orother vehicle is moving forwardly eiiectively cools the front and sideportions of the cylinders so that with the present invention applied theentire cylinder is properly and uniformly cooled at all parts of thesame, thus avoiding distortion of the cylinders and increasing theefficiency of the engine.

It is preferred to incline or curve the casings 28 relatively to theaxes of the corresponding cylinders in substantially the mannerindicated in Figure 1 in order to form a substantially Venturi shapedpassage 29 having a restricted portion 31 positioned atabout the hottestpointin the length of the cylinder, namely opposite the combustion spacethereof. This arrangement will cause an increased velocity ofthe aircurrent at this restricted portion or the passage which will increasethe cooling effect of the air upon this part of the cylinder.

Each of the cylinders 2 may be provided within the passage 29 withvertical or longitudinal fins 32, as illustrated particularly in Figures2 and 8, and between these fins the cylinder wall may be provided withcorrugations or projections 33, these fins and corrugations materiallyincreasing the cooling eti ects. The side edges of the casing or plate28 may be suitably secured to the side fins 82, as indicated at inFigures 2 and S, these side fins, if desired, being of greater radialdimension than the remaining fins of the group. At the restrictedportion 31 oi the passage 29 the casing 28 is substantially in contactwith the fins 32, as indicated in Figure 2. Horizontal or transversecooling fins may be provided around the front and side portions of thecylinders as indicated. I

Instead of providing the vertical fins and corrugations 32, 33 thehorizontal transverse fins 35 may extend all the way around thecylinder, these fins being notched or cut away within the passage 29 soas to facilitate the inward flow of air through said passages. Thisarrangement facilitates the construction of the cylinder and it permitsfree circulation within the passage 29 all around the cylinder wall andfin surfaces.

The fan or blower 30 may, if desired, be arranged within a suitablecasing at the rear of the casing 22, such casing being prO- vided withsuitable outlets for the discharge of the air. It will also beunderstood, that instead oi the blower inducing air downwardly throughthe respective passages 29, it may be arranged to draw in air throughthe passage 24 and force the same upwardly through the various passages29, the blower in this case preferably being located within the annularchamber 2'? formed between the casings l and 22. It will also beunderstood that other means than a blower may be provided for thepurpose o1" inducing or forcing air through the passages 29 at the rearof the respective cylinders.

If desired a streamline casing may be provided at the rear of eachcylinder, the side walls of which converge rearwardly to conform to thenormal streamline flow ot' the air and thereby prevent the formation ofa vacuum at the rear oi the cylinder, which vacuum tends to reduce theforward speed. The front end of these walls are connected to the sidefins 32 of the cylinder wall. The inlet pipes 20 and elbows 21 are, asindicated, enclosed by this streamline casing 36 so as to furtherprevent re duction of speed by air pressure against these pipes andelbows, and to prevent undue cooling of the mixture flowing to thecylinders.

The cooling features hereinbefore described are also applicable toengines in which cylinders are arranged one behind another in thedirection of movement of the aeroplane or vehicle to which the engine isapplied. With such arrangement of the engine cylinders the passages 29communicating with the annular chamber 27 would be provided at the rearportion of the rearmost cylinder and similar passages would be arrangedbetween the adjacent cylinders, which passages would communicate bymeans of side passages or conduits with the annular chamber 27 so thatwhen the suction fan or blower was operated air would be drawn not onlythrough the passages at the rear of the rearmost cylinder but alsothrough the passages between the adjacent cylinders so as to effectivelycool all surfaces of all of the cylinders. The passages between adjacentcylinders may be divided by plates constructed to provide substantiallyVenturi-shaped air passages, for the purpose above stated.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an enginecylinder having the forward and side portions thereof exposed to thecooling action of air flowing relatively to the engine, of passageforming means applied to the rear portion of said cylinder and coactingwith the rear portion of the cylinder wall to form a passage extendingalong the rear portion of the cylinder having an air inlet and adischarge outlet to atmosphere, and means driven by the engine forproducing a current of air through said passage and in contact with therear portion of the cylinder wall.

In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an enginecylinder having the forward and side portions thereof exposed to thecooling act-ion of air flowing relatively to the engine, of passageforming means applied to the rear portion of said cylinder and coactingwith the rear portion of the cylinder wall to form a Venturi shapedpassage extending along the rear portion of the cylinder having an airinlet and a discharge outlet to atmosphere, and means driven by theengine for producing a current of air through said passage and incontact with the rear portion of the cylinder wall.

3. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an enginecylinder having the front and side portions thereof exposed to thecooling action of air flowing relatively to the engine, of a casingmember secured to the rear portion of the cylinder wall and coactingwith said rear portion to form a passage extending longitudinally of thecylinder and having an air inlet and a discharge,outlet, and meansdriven by the engine for producing a current of air flowing through saidpassage and in contact with the rear portion of the cylinder wall.

a. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an enginecylinder having the. front and side portions thereof exposed to thecooling action of air flowing relatively to the engine, of a casingmember secured to the rear portion of the cylinder wall and coactingwith said rear portion to form apassage extending longitudinally of thecylinder and having an air inlet and a discharge outlet, and meansdriven by the engine for producing a current of air flowing through saidpassage and in contact with the rear portion of the cylinder wall, saidcasing member being shaped to form a restricted portion in said passage.

5. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an enginecylinder having the front and side portions thereof exposed to thecooling action of air flowing relative 1y to the engine, said cylinderhaving longitudinally extending fins at opposite sides of the rearportion of the cylinder wall, of a casing member secured to said finsand arranged to form therewith and with the rear portion of the cylinderwall a passage having an air inlet and a discharge outlet, and meansdriven by the engine for producing a current of air flowing through saidpassage and in contact with the rear portion of the cylinder wall.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an enginecylinder having the front and side portions thereof exposed to thecooling action of air flowing relatively to the engine, said cylinderhaving longitudinally extending fins at opposite sides of the rearportion of the. cylinder wall, of a casing member secured to said finsand arranged to form therewith and with the rear portion of the cylinderwall a passage having an air inlet and a discharge outlet, and meansdriven by the engine for producing a current of air flowing through saidpassage and in contact with the rear portion of the cylinder wall, saidrear portion of the cylinder wall being provided with corrugationsextending transversely of said passage.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an enginecylinder having the front and side portions thereof exposed to thecoolmg action of air flowing relatively to the engine, said cylinderhaving longitudinally extending line at opposite sides of the rearportion of the cylinder wall, of a casing member secured to said finsand arranged to form therewith and with the rear portion of the cylinderwall a passage having an air inlet and a discharge outlet, and meansdriven by the engine for producing a current of air flowing through saidpassage and in contact with the rear portion of the cylinder wall, saidrear portion of the cylinder wall being provided with corrugationsextending transversely of said passage, and with longitudinallyextending fins Within said passage.

8. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecylinder of driven means for producing a curent of cooling air flowingin contact with a portion only of the exterior of said cylinder, andmeans. for confining said air to contact with said portion of saidcylinder, said means being formed to produce an increase in the velocityof said current at one part of said portion.

9.-In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecylinder of means forming, together with a portion only of the cylinderwall, an air passage having a restricted portion and an outlet toatmosphere, and driven means for producing a current of cooling airthrough said'passage.

10. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecylinder of means forming an air passage at the rear of the cylinderwall having a restricted portion opposite the combustion space of saidcylinder, and driven means for producing a current of cooling airthrough said passage in contact with said wall.

11. In an internal combustion engine, the

combination with the engine cylinder of means forming, "together with aportion of the cylinder wall, aVenturi shaped air passage, and drivenmeans for producing a current of cooling air through said passage.

12. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the enginecylinder of means forming, together with a portion of the cylinder wall,an air passage, said wall being provided with transversely extendingcorrugations withinsaid passage, and driven means for producing acurrent of cooling air through said passage.

13. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the crankcasing of easing means secured to said crank casing in spaced relationto the side Wall thereof to form an annular chamber surrounding thecrankshaft of the engine, means extending radially from said casingmeans in the rear of an engine cylinder to form an air passage extendingalong the rear portion only of said cylinder and communicating with saidannular chamber, said means having an air inlet and a blower meansmounted on and rotatable with the crankshaft in operative relation tosaid chamber to produce an air flow through said chamber and saidpassage.

14. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with the crankcasing of the engine of a mixture intake casing having a chamber thereinand means connecting said chamber with the inlet port of a cylinder ofthe engine, said intake casing being secured to the crank casing inspaced relation to the side wall thereof to form an annular chambertherewith surrounding the crankshaft of the engine, means extendingradially from said intake casing in the rear of said cylinder to form apassage extending along the rear portion only of said cylinder, saidpassage having an air inlet, and a blower means mounted on and rotatablewith the crankshaft in operative relation "to said annular chamber toproduce an air flow through said chamber and said passage.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' JOHN M. vVILLIAMS,JR.

